Easy
Hiking Trails Under 5 km near Des Moines
The directory currently contains 41 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Des Moines. Their average mapped distance is 1.8 km and average recorded ascent is 12 m (39 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.8 km.
This subset represents 57% of the 72 quality-checked routes near Des Moines. Its average distance is 1.8 km, compared with 12.0 km across the full local set.
Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 36 routes (88%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 19 (46%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.
Data refreshed September 2026
Choose by the details
How do these routes differ?
A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.
Shortest mapped distance in this sample
1.7 km
Hillside Mountain Bike TrailCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
Lowest recorded ascent in this sample
0 m
John Pat Dorrian Trail6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.
Return logistics
1 recorded loop
Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.
Plan the return journey →Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.
Trails
Easy
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 2.1 km / 1.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 27 min
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 1.7 km / 1.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 34 m
- Typical duration
- 24 min
- Mountain
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 2.7 km / 1.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 72 m
- Typical duration
- 40 min
- Mountain
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 2.2 km / 1.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 19 m
- Typical duration
- 30 min
Easy
Moderate
Easy
Moderate
Easy
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 0.8 km / 0.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 20 m
- Typical duration
- 12 min
Moderate
Easy
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 4.7 km / 2.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 13 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr
- Forest
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 3.1 km / 1.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 15 m
- Typical duration
- 40 min
- Lake
Easy
Moderate
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 1.0 km / 0.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 28 m
- Typical duration
- 15 min
- Lake
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 1.2 km / 0.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 8 m
- Typical duration
- 16 min
- Alpine meadow
Easy
Easy
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 4.4 km / 2.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 31 m
- Typical duration
- 58 min
Easy
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 1.1 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 14 min
- Mountain
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Moderate
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
The shortlist, side by side
The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time | Difficulty | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Pat Dorrian TrailIowa | 3.7 km | 0 m | 47 min | Easy | April to October |
| Levee TrailIowa | 4.3 km | 0 m | 54 min | Easy | April to October |
| Principal RiverwalkIowa | 2.1 km | 7 m | 27 min | Easy | April to October |
| Hillside Mountain Bike TrailIowa | 1.7 km | 34 m | 24 min | Easy | April to October |
| Rollercoaster Mountain Bike TrailIowa | 2.7 km | 72 m | 40 min | Easy | April to October |
| Gay Lea Wilson TrailIowa | 2.2 km | 19 m | 30 min | Easy | April to October |
| Prairie TrailIowa | 0.9 km | 0 m | 11 min | Easy | April to October |
| Crow's Nest TrailIowa | 0.7 km | 57 m | 13 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Gray's Station TrailIowa | 1.6 km | 0 m | 20 min | Easy | April to October |
| Hog's Back TrailIowa | 0.6 km | 22 m | 9 min | Moderate | April to October |
John Pat Dorrian Trail, Principal Riverwalk, Levee Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
Plan with more confidence
All planning articles →Choosing a route
How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label
Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.
Read article →Understanding the map
Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb
Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.
Read article →Planning your day
Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace
Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.
Read article →Related guides
Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.
- Hiking Trails Under 5 km in United States3816
- Moderate Hiking Trails in United States2589
- Easy Hiking Trails in United States2332
- Family-Friendly Hikes in United States2298
- Best Mountain Hikes in United States1375
- Dog-Friendly Hikes in United States1092
- Loop Trails in United States1042
- Hiking Trails Under 10 km in California829
- Hard Hiking Trails in United States778
- Moderate Hiking Trails in California722
- Best Autumn Hikes in California628
- Hiking Trails Under 5 km in California600
- Easy Hiking Trails in Connecticut565
- Family-Friendly Hikes in Connecticut564
- Hiking Trails Over 20 km in United States545
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